Local groups opposed to deepsea mining in waters near American Samoa are behind a community letter to be sent to the Fono urging lawmakers to take affirmative action to safeguard local waters from deep sea mining.
The letter is being circulated on line to collect signatures before it is submitted to Fono leaders and lawmakers.
According to Dr Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka, the letter is initiated by Finafinau, Faasao Amerika Samoa, Puipui Measina, American Samoa Chamber of Commerce and the American Samoa Democratic Party.
With the recent revelation that the Department of Interior hopes to secure a lease sale for deep sea mining by August, the letter says this is a critical moment for American Samoa as federal agencies advance preliminary steps towards offshore mineral leasing for deep sea mining in waters adjacent to our territory.
It says the rights and interests of American Samoa in its lands and surrounding waters are firmly grounded in the Deeds of Cession of Tutuila of 1900 and Manu’a in 1904, under which sovereignty was ceded to the United States with the clear expectation that the United States would protect the lands, resources and well being of the people of American Samoa. “Any decision to advance deep sea mining activities in waters adjacent to the territory, particularly without meaningful territorial participation or adequate safeguard, raises serious concerns regarding consistency with these obligations,” says the letter.
It points out that federal agencies must ensure that their actions fully respect these commitments including the protections of our marine environment, our economy and our cultural heritage. “A lease, once issued is transferable and does not distinguish between exploration and eventual exploitation,” it says. “There are no arrangements for revenue sharing, royalties, landowner fees, mining taxation, environmental fees, or mechanisms to address long term environmental harm and economic displacement nor other material benefits to the American Samoa Government or people.”
The letter sets out several recommendations for the Legislature to take. One is that if the federal government moves forward with authorizing extraction of seabed minerals in waters near the territory, without appropriate consultation or safeguard, that the Fono consider supporting appropriate legal action by ASG or by community groups to ensure that American Samoa’s rights are respected.
It also urges the Fono to consider the enactment of a formal legislatively established moratorium on deep sea mining activities affecting American Samoa’s waters, ports and associated infrastructure.
Dr Suluai Mahuka said in less than a day, over 500 signatures were collected and the letter has been shared widely on social media platforms.
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